Circuit breaker



June 10 1924. 7 1,497,582

. A. PETERSEN CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 21 1922 WITNESSES INVENTOR M A, PeZerJen/ A TTOR/VEYS Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR PETERSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed February 21, 1922. Serial No. 538,823.

To all 107mm itmay concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Pn'rnnsnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Circuit Breaker, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates 'to improvements in circuit breakers, an object of the invention being to provide a novel form of circuit breaker which is primarily intended for use in the ignition circuit of automobiles, but which is capable of various other uses.

A further object is to provide arotary circuit breaker provided with a plurality of removable breaker points which can be quickly detached and replaced as they become worn.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple and practical in construction, strong, durable and accurate in use, capable of being easily repaired, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved circuit breaker, the cover of the breaker casing being removed;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the circuit breaker casing and the circuit breaking mechanism;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail View of two of the breaker points and their associated mechanism;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing one of the removable breaker points in section; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the removable breaker points.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the circuit breaker casing 1 is formed Witha removable side section or cover 2 and this casing is formed with an integral bearing boss 3 wherein a short shaft 4 is mounted in a bearing sleeve 5. A pinion 6 fixed on the outer end of the shaft may be coupled to any suitable driving mechanism for turning the shaft. The driving mechanism for the pinion is not shown.

An insulated bushing 7 is mounted in an opening of the wall of the casing 1 at a point adjacent the bearing boss and this insulated bushing provides mounting for a short shaft 8. The outer screw threaded end 9 of the shaft 8 serves as a binding post upon which a clamping nut 10 is secured and is utilized to attach a wire 11 from the primary circuit of an automobile.

A gear wheel 12 of steelor other conductive material is keyed to the inner end of the shaft 4 and a gear wheel 13 of the same size as the wheel 12 is idly mounted on the shaft 8 and meshes with the wheel 12. The gear wheel 13 is composed of fiber or other suitable non-conductive material and is of course driven upon turning of the shaft 1. Breaker points 14 are carried by the periphery of the gear 12. Any suitable number of these points may be utilized in accord ance with the use for which the breaker mechanism is intended. In the drawings, I have shown four equidistantly spaced breaker points.

The gear 13 is formed with four radially extending recesses '15 in one of its faces. Spring clips 16 mounted in the recesses 15 are adapted to receive and hold cartridgelike casings 17 the inner ends of which, contact with a metal bushing 18 on which the idler gear 13 rides. The casings 17 are formed with openings 19 at their outer ends and coiled springs 20 within the casings tend to normally project breaker points 21 through these openings. The outward movement of the braker points is limited by the engagement of a shoulder 22 with a lip or flange 23 at the outer end of each casing. It will of course be evident that the breaker points 21 cooperate and contact with the breaker points 14 upon rotation of the gears. Current from the wire 11 passes through the shaft 8, bushing 18, casings 17 breaker points 21 and 14, gear 12, shaft 4 and is grounded.

It will be apparent that the uses of the circuit breaker are practically unlimited, and that this rotary device could be used in any place where circuit makers and breakers are now utilized. The removable bullet-like casings 17 greatly facilitate repair of the breaker when the contact points or breaker points become worn.

Although I have illustrated one of the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that various slight changes non-conductive gear having radially dis-.

posed recesses therein, casings removably secured in the recesses, and breaker points associated with the casings.

2. In a circuit breaker, a pair of inter meshing gears formed of conductive and non-conductive material respectively, breaker points fixed to the'conductive gear, the non-conductive gear having radially disposed recesses therein, casings removably secured in the recesses, breaker points associated with the casings, and springs urging said breaker points outwardly.

3. In a circuit breaker, a pair of intermeshing gears formed of conductive and non-conductive material respectively, breaker points fixed to the conductive gear, the non-conductive gear having radially disposed recesses therein, casings removably secured in the recesses, breaker points as sociated with the casings, springs urging said breaker points outwardly, and spring 1 clips in the recesses receiving said casings.

4. In a circuit breaker, a pair of inter meshing gears formed of conductive and non-conductivematerial respectively, breaker points fixed to the conductive gear, the non-conductive gear having radially disposed recesses therein, casings removably secured in the recesses, breaker points associated with the casings, springs urging said breaker points outwardly, and means limiting the movement of the spring pressed breaker points.

5. In a circuit breaker, a pair of interineshing gears formed of conductive and non-conductive material respectively, breaker points fixed to the conductive gear, the non-conductive gear having radially disposed recesses therein, casings removably secured in the recesses, breaker points associated with the casings, springs urging said breaker points outwardly, and means for driving one of said gears.

6. In a circuit breaker, a pair of intermeshing gears formed of conductive and non-conductive material respectively, breaker points fixed to the conductive gear, the non-conductive gear having radially disposed recesses therein, casings remova'bly secured in the recesses, breaker points associated with the casings, springs urging said breaker points outwardly, means for ARTHUR PETERSEN. 

